Michigan Form MC 31 is the Request and Writ for Garnishment (Periodic) that a judgment creditor files with the same Michigan court that entered the underlying money judgment to capture a debtor’s wages, rent, land-contract payments, or other regularly recurring income. The form is published by the State Court Administrative Office and the version most courts accept today is the MC 31 (3/24) revision printed in the lower-left corner.
Filing this writ wrong is one of the most expensive paperwork mistakes a creditor can make. According to the Michigan State Court Administrative Office annual statistics, Michigan trial courts processed more than 400,000 garnishment writs in a single recent year, and clerks reject an estimated 15–20% of periodic writs at intake for missing fees, blank disclosure boxes, or stale judgment-interest math.
Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- 📝 How to complete every box on the MC 31 (3/24) line by line, in plain English.
- 💵 The exact filing fees, the $35.00 statutory garnishee fee, and how to calculate post-judgment interest under MCL 600.6013.
- 📬 Every filing channel — paper, in person, and the MiFILE e-filing portal — with addresses, processing times, and proof-of-filing tips.
- 🧾 Three real-world scenarios (landlord, medical provider, ex-spouse) with full sample tables.
- ⚠️ The 10 most common rejection-causing mistakes and how to avoid each one before the clerk ever sees your packet.
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
Michigan Form MC 31 is the Request and Writ for Garnishment (Periodic), the single document that both asks the court for a writ and becomes the writ once the clerk signs and seals it. It is governed by MCR 3.101 and the garnishment statutes at MCL 600.4011 through 600.4061. The “periodic” label means the writ targets payments the garnishee owes the debtor on a repeating basis — paychecks, rent, land-contract installments, pensions, or commissions — as opposed to a one-time pot of money like a bank account, which uses Form MC 13 instead.
Any judgment creditor with a Michigan money judgment that is still active (under MCL 600.5809, 10 years from entry or last renewal) may file MC 31. Common filers include landlords collecting on eviction money judgments, hospitals collecting medical debt, credit-card assignees, small-business owners, contractors, ex-spouses enforcing property-settlement awards, and self-represented individuals who won in small claims division.
You must use MC 31 in the same court that entered the judgment — district, circuit, or probate. A district-court judgment under $25,000 stays in district court for garnishment, even if the debtor’s wages flow from an out-of-county employer. The form must also name a real, identifiable garnishee, because Michigan does not allow “John Doe” writs.
If the underlying judgment was entered in another state, you cannot file MC 31 directly. You must first domesticate the judgment under Michigan’s Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act by filing the MC 26 affidavit, then proceed with MC 31 once Michigan recognition is final.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Filling out MC 31 is mostly a copy-and-paste job, but only if you have your judgment file and garnishee details organized first. The clerk will reject the packet on the spot if even one anchor fact — such as the case number or judgment date — is missing or wrong. Gather every item below before opening the form.
- Certified or file-stamped copy of the underlying judgment. Without it, you cannot prove the dollar amount or date that anchors every other box.
- Case number from the original lawsuit. A typo here sends the writ to the wrong file and the garnishee may ignore it.
- Defendant’s full legal name and last known address. The garnishee uses this to match payroll or tenant records.
- Last four digits of the defendant’s Social Security number. Required by MCR 3.101(D) so payroll departments can confirm identity.
- Garnishee’s exact legal name and registered address. Pull this from the LARA Corporations Online Filing System — not the storefront name.
- Current judgment balance. Principal, costs, and post-judgment interest computed through the date of the writ.
- Post-judgment interest rate. Look up the current six-month statutory interest rate under MCL 600.6013.
- Filing fee and garnishee fee. $15.00 to the court (district court) and $35.00 payable to the garnishee at the time of service.
- Method of service plan. Certified mail, sheriff, or registered process server — each requires a different proof-of-service form.
- Email address and bar number if you are an attorney filing through MiFILE.
If any of these is missing, stop and find it. A writ filed on guesswork is worse than no writ at all because it can be quashed under MCR 3.101(K), forcing you to pay the debtor’s attorney fees.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
The only authoritative source for MC 31 is the SCAO forms library, which posts the current fillable PDF as MC 31 (3/24). Do not download the form from third-party legal aggregator sites because those copies often lag the SCAO revision date and clerks may reject them.
You have three practical access paths. First, download the fillable PDF from the SCAO MC 31 link, open it in Adobe Acrobat Reader, and type into the live fields. Second, use the MiFILE e-filing wizard at mifile.courts.michigan.gov, which auto-fills the case caption from the existing case file. Third, request a paper copy at the clerk’s window of the court where the judgment was entered; clerks keep stacks of MC 31s for self-represented filers.
Self-represented filers can also work through the free guided interview at Michigan Legal Help, which produces a completed MC 31 ready for clerk signature. The interview is free and walks through every box in this article.
If you are filing in a county that is fully on MiFILE — which is now the majority of Michigan trial courts as of 2026 — you must e-file unless you are pro se and qualify for a paper-filing exemption under Administrative Order 2019-6. Always check your specific court’s local rules before printing or scanning.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out Michigan Form MC 31 Line by Line
The MC 31 has three pages but only the first page is filled out by the creditor. Page 1 is the writ itself. Page 2 is the Garnishee Disclosure that the garnishee completes after service. Page 3 contains instructions and the Proof of Service block. Work top-to-bottom, left-to-right, and never skip a box.
Box 1: Court Telephone No. and Court Caption (Top of Form)
This box asks for the court name, address, and telephone number of the court that entered the judgment. Type it exactly as it appears on the judgment — for example, 46th Judicial Circuit Court, 328 Washington Street, Traverse City, MI 49684, (231) 922-4580. A district-court filer would instead enter 86th District Court with that court’s address.
Use the same court the judgment came from, never the court closest to the debtor’s home. Match the case number style the clerk uses (some courts use 24-12345-CK, others 2024-12345-GC).
For example, Maria Lopez, a landlord with a Wayne County small-claims judgment, types 36th District Court, 421 Madison Street, Detroit, MI 48226, (313) 965-2200. If you write the wrong court here, the clerk will refuse to seal the writ because she cannot issue process for a sister court.
A common edge case is a judgment that was transferred under MCR 4.201(N) from district to circuit court for collection. In that situation, file MC 31 in the transferee court — the one that now holds the file.
The most frequent mistake here is using the court’s mailing P.O. Box instead of its physical street address. The garnishee may try to mail the disclosure back to a P.O. Box that does not accept legal mail, and your writ stalls. A misconception is that the court’s main administrative phone is interchangeable with the civil-division line; it is not, and disclosures sometimes get lost in transfer.
Box 2: Case Number
Enter the complete case number from the judgment, including the year prefix and the case-type suffix (such as -GC, -CK, -CZ, or -NZ). Do not invent a new case number for the garnishment; Michigan dockets the writ under the original case.
For example, Carlos Reyes, a medical-provider creditor, writes 2023-004812-GC exactly as it appears on the docket. The case number is the single most-checked field at intake; clerks scan it first.
The most common edge case is a case that was renumbered after a venue change. Use whatever number is on the most recent order in the file, not the original complaint.
A frequent mistake is dropping a leading zero — 23-4812 instead of 2023-004812-GC. The clerk’s docketing system will reject the entry, and you will be told to refile. The misconception is that the small-claims case number carries forward unchanged after a transfer to the regular district-court docket; it usually gets a new suffix when transferred.
Box 3: Plaintiff’s Name, Address, and Telephone No.
This is the judgment creditor — the person or business owed money. Type the legal name exactly as it appears on the judgment, the current mailing address, and a working phone number. If the plaintiff has assigned the judgment, the assignee is now the plaintiff for garnishment purposes and should be named here, with a citation to the recorded assignment.
For example, Janet Whitaker, an ex-spouse enforcing a property-settlement award, writes Janet M. Whitaker, 812 Maple Street, Lansing, MI 48912, (517) 555-0148.
The edge case is a business plaintiff that has changed names since the judgment. Use the name on the judgment in the caption, but disclose the new name in a parenthetical such as (now known as Reyes Family Medicine, PLLC).
The classic mistake is omitting the suite or apartment number. The garnishee mails the garnishee disclosure to the address you list, and if it bounces, your 14-day clock under MCR 3.101(H) burns down. The misconception is that you may use a debt-collection agency’s address as the plaintiff’s address; you may not unless the agency is the assignee of record.
Box 4: Plaintiff’s Attorney, Bar No., Address, and Telephone No.
If an attorney represents the plaintiff, enter the attorney’s full name, State Bar of Michigan P-number, firm address, telephone, and email. Pro se filers leave this entire block blank — do not write N/A across it because some clerks use that as a flag for missing data.
For example, attorney Daniel R. Park, P-67431, Park & Associates PLLC, 200 Ottawa Ave NW, Suite 700, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, (616) 555-0192, dpark@parklaw.com. The bar number must match the State Bar of Michigan member directory.
The edge case is a limited-scope appearance under MCR 2.117(B)(2). The attorney still lists full contact info but should attach the limited-scope notice.
The most common mistake is writing the firm’s old P-number after the lawyer changed firms. The State Bar links the P-number to the lawyer, not the firm, so use the current address. The misconception is that paralegals may sign on the attorney’s behalf; only the bar-licensed attorney may sign Box 11.
Box 5: Defendant’s Name, Address, Social Security No. (Last 4 Digits)
The defendant is the judgment debtor. Print full legal name, last known residential address, and only the last four digits of the Social Security number, prefaced with xxx-xx- to show redaction. Listing the full SSN violates MCR 1.109(D)(9) and the clerk will reject the filing under the privacy rule.
For example, Thomas A. Becker, 4427 Lakeview Drive, Apt. 3B, Kalamazoo, MI 49006, xxx-xx-4912.
The edge case is a debtor with a common name. Add a date of birth in the body of the writ if you have it, so the payroll department does not garnish the wrong Thomas Becker.
The most common mistake is using the address from the original complaint when the debtor has moved. The garnishee will not check the debtor’s residence, but a stale address weakens any later proof of identity. The misconception is that you may include the full SSN if the file is sealed; you may not, because writs are served on third parties outside the seal.
Box 6: Garnishee’s Name and Address
The garnishee is the third party — usually an employer, tenant, pension plan, or land contract vendee — that owes the debtor periodic payments. Enter the garnishee’s exact legal name and registered office or principal place of business. If the garnishee is a Michigan LLC or corporation, copy the name from LARA’s business entity search.
For example, Spectrum Health Hospitals, 100 Michigan Street NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503.
The edge case is a national employer with a payroll-processing address different from its corporate HQ. Use the address designated on the LARA filing for service of process, then send a courtesy copy to payroll.
The most common mistake is naming the d/b/a (such as Joe’s Pizza) instead of the registered LLC (JS Restaurant Group, LLC d/b/a Joe’s Pizza). Service on a fictitious name is invalid under MCL 450.4207. The misconception is that you may name the parent corporation when the subsidiary is the employer; you must name the actual paying entity.
Box 7: Date of Judgment and Total Judgment
Two anchor numbers go here. Date of judgment is the date the court signed the money judgment, in MM/DD/YYYY format — for example, 03/14/2024. Total judgment is the principal-plus-costs award, exactly as the judgment states, before any post-judgment interest.
For example, the judgment states $4,217.42. Carlos types $4,217.42 even though the debtor has paid nothing since.
The edge case is a default judgment that was later amended on motion. Use the most recent amended judgment date and amount.
The mistake is rounding the dollar amount; clerks compare your number to the docket entry penny-for-penny. The misconception is that you should reduce the judgment by partial payments here; you do not — that adjustment goes on the next line.
Box 8: Total of Post-Judgment Interest, Costs, and Payments
This is the net balance owed today. Add post-judgment interest under MCL 600.6013 using the six-month rate published by Michigan Treasury, add allowable post-judgment costs (such as prior writ fees), and subtract all credits the debtor has earned (voluntary payments, prior garnishment recoveries, set-offs).
For example, on a $4,217.42 judgment dated 03/14/2024, with the rate at 5.426% through 06/30/2025 and 5.187% after, Carlos calculates interest of $487.18, adds a prior $35 garnishee fee, subtracts a $200 voluntary payment, and writes $4,539.60.
The edge case is a judgment that already includes pre-judgment interest. Do not double-count; start interest accrual the day after the judgment date.
The most common mistake is using the wrong six-month rate. The misconception is that interest compounds; under Michigan law it is calculated on the principal, not on prior interest, until a new writ resets the balance.
Box 9: Statement Identifying Periodic Payments
The form lists checkboxes for the type of periodic payment: earnings, rent, land contract payments, or other. Check only one that fits, or specify under other if it is something like commissions or pension annuity. Checking earnings triggers the federal Consumer Credit Protection Act wage exemption at 15 USC 1673, capping the take at 25% of disposable earnings.
For example, Maria the landlord checks rent because she is garnishing rent her former tenant collects from a sublet. Janet the ex-spouse checks earnings because she is going after wages.
The edge case is a debtor who is both an employee and an independent contractor of the same garnishee. File two MC 31s — one for earnings and one for other (1099 payments) — because the exemptions differ.
The mistake is checking earnings for an independent contractor; that triggers an exemption fight you will lose, but only after wasting the writ. The misconception is that Social Security and unemployment can be reached with MC 31; they cannot, under 42 USC 407 and MCL 421.30.
Box 10: Plaintiff/Attorney Verification and Signature
The form includes a verification under MCR 1.109(D)(3) that the facts are true to the best of the signer’s knowledge. The plaintiff or attorney signs and dates the line, prints name, and provides bar number if applicable. Pro se filers sign their own name.
For example, Janet M. Whitaker signs above the signature line and dates it 05/12/2026.
The edge case is a corporate plaintiff. An officer or authorized agent signs and adds title, such as Vice President.
The mistake is signing in blue ink and then scanning to MiFILE; some courts require black ink only on the original. The misconception is that an electronic signature is invalid; under MCR 1.109(E) a typed /s/ signature on an e-filed writ is valid.
Box 11: Court Clerk’s Issuance and Seal
This block is filled in by the court clerk, not the filer. The clerk verifies the case is active, the fees are paid, and the writ is facially valid, then signs, seals, and dates the writ to issue it. Once issued, the writ is alive for 182 days from issuance under MCR 3.101(B)(1).
For example, the clerk stamps Issued: 05/14/2026, Expires: 11/12/2026, Deputy Clerk J. Ramirez. Mark this date on your calendar; service must occur and the disclosure must be returned within the 182-day window.
The edge case is a clerk who refuses to issue because the judgment is more than 10 years old. You must first file a Motion to Renew Judgment before the writ can issue.
The mistake is filing a stack of writs and not noting the issuance date on each. Several writs may expire silently and you’ll discover the gap only after the garnishee stops withholding. The misconception is that the 182-day clock starts at service; it starts at issuance.
Box 12: Garnishee Fee Acknowledgment
A small acknowledgment block confirms that the $35.00 garnishee fee required by MCL 600.4012(2) is being delivered with the writ. Do not staple cash; use a check or money order made payable to the garnishee, not to the court.
For example, Carlos attaches a $35 check made payable to Spectrum Health Hospitals and notes the check number on the cover sheet.
The edge case is a garnishee that refuses checks (some out-of-state payroll processors). Use a money order or, if MiFILE-served, an ACH credit through the e-filing wizard.
The mistake is forgetting the fee entirely; without the fee, the garnishee can ignore the writ under MCR 3.101(F)(2). The misconception is that the fee gets reimbursed by the debtor automatically; you must add it to Box 8 of your next writ to recover it.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
The fastest way to internalize MC 31 is to watch real filers complete it. Below are three of the most common scenarios in Michigan courts: a landlord chasing back rent, a hospital chasing medical debt, and an ex-spouse chasing a property-settlement award.
Scenario 1: Maria Lopez — Landlord Garnishing a Former Tenant’s Wages
| Form Section | What Maria Enters |
|---|---|
| Court Caption | 36th District Court, 421 Madison St., Detroit, MI 48226 |
| Case Number | 2024-118427-LT |
| Plaintiff (Box 3) | Maria Lopez, 1212 Cass Ave, Detroit, MI 48226, (313) 555-0144 |
| Plaintiff’s Attorney (Box 4) | (blank — pro se) |
| Defendant (Box 5) | Devon R. Pickering, 4500 Woodward Ave Apt 6, Detroit, MI 48201, xxx-xx-3318 |
| Garnishee (Box 6) | DTE Energy Company, One Energy Plaza, Detroit, MI 48226 |
| Date / Total of Judgment (Box 7) | Date: 09/03/2024 / Total: $3,820.00 |
| Net Balance Owed (Box 8) | $4,012.74 (interest $192.74 added, no payments) |
| Type of Periodic Payment (Box 9) | Earnings ☒ |
| Signature / Date (Box 10) | /s/ Maria Lopez — 05/14/2026 |
Scenario 2: Carlos Reyes — Medical Provider on a $4,217.42 Judgment
| Form Section | What Carlos Enters |
|---|---|
| Court Caption | 17th Circuit Court, 180 Ottawa Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 |
| Case Number | 2023-004812-CK |
| Plaintiff (Box 3) | Reyes Family Medicine, PLLC, 88 Monroe Center NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 |
| Plaintiff’s Attorney (Box 4) | Daniel R. Park, P-67431, Park & Associates PLLC, (616) 555-0192 |
| Defendant (Box 5) | Thomas A. Becker, 4427 Lakeview Dr Apt 3B, Kalamazoo, MI 49006, xxx-xx-4912 |
| Garnishee (Box 6) | Spectrum Health Hospitals, 100 Michigan St NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 |
| Date / Total of Judgment (Box 7) | Date: 03/14/2024 / Total: $4,217.42 |
| Net Balance Owed (Box 8) | $4,539.60 (interest $487.18, costs $35, payment –$200) |
| Type of Periodic Payment (Box 9) | Earnings ☒ |
| Signature / Date (Box 10) | /s/ Daniel R. Park, P-67431 — 05/14/2026 |
Scenario 3: Janet Whitaker — Ex-Spouse Enforcing a Property Settlement
| Form Section | What Janet Enters |
|---|---|
| Court Caption | 30th Circuit Court — Family Division, 313 W Kalamazoo St, Lansing, MI 48933 |
| Case Number | 2021-001902-DO |
| Plaintiff (Box 3) | Janet M. Whitaker, 812 Maple St, Lansing, MI 48912, (517) 555-0148 |
| Plaintiff’s Attorney (Box 4) | (blank — pro se) |
| Defendant (Box 5) | Robert L. Whitaker, 47 Oakwood Ln, East Lansing, MI 48823, xxx-xx-2207 |
| Garnishee (Box 6) | General Motors LLC, 300 Renaissance Center, Detroit, MI 48243 |
| Date / Total of Judgment (Box 7) | Date: 06/22/2023 / Total: $18,500.00 |
| Net Balance Owed (Box 8) | $20,114.32 (interest $1,614.32, no payments) |
| Type of Periodic Payment (Box 9) | Earnings ☒ |
| Signature / Date (Box 10) | /s/ Janet M. Whitaker — 05/14/2026 |
A fourth example worth noting: Aisha Bennett, a contractor owed $7,800 by a homeowner, files MC 31 against the homeowner’s tenant to capture rent. Marcus Donnelly, a small-business owner, files against a former customer’s commission income from a real estate brokerage and checks other — commissions on Box 9.
How to File the Completed Form
Michigan offers three filing channels for MC 31, and the right one depends on whether your court is a MiFILE court and whether you have an attorney. Each channel has its own fee, processing time, and proof-of-filing standard.
Online via MiFILE. Almost every Michigan trial court is now on the MiFILE e-filing system. Upload the completed PDF, pay the $15 court filing fee plus a $8 e-filing surcharge by credit card or ACH, and the writ is routed to the clerk’s queue. Processing usually takes 1–3 business days. Save the Notice of Electronic Filing email as proof of filing.
By mail. Print three copies of the completed MC 31, attach a check or money order for $15.00 payable to the court, include a self-addressed stamped envelope, and mail to the civil-division clerk at the court’s street address. Processing time is 5–10 business days. Keep the certified-mail green card as proof.
In person. Walk the original plus two copies to the clerk’s window during business hours, pay the $15 fee by cash, check, or card, and ask the clerk to time-stamp your file copy. Processing is same-day in most counties. The time-stamped copy is your proof of filing.
After issuance, the writ must be served on the garnishee within 91 days of issuance under MCR 3.101(D)(2). Service options are certified mail (return receipt requested), personal service by sheriff or process server, or registered service. File the Proof of Service on Form MC 8 within seven days after service is complete.
What Happens After You File
Once the clerk seals the writ and you serve it on the garnishee, a tight 14-day clock begins under MCR 3.101(H)(1). The garnishee must mail or deliver a completed MC 14 (Garnishee Disclosure) to you, the defendant, and the court within those 14 days, stating whether it owes the debtor periodic payments and how much.
If the disclosure shows withholdings, the garnishee then begins withholding the lesser of 25% of disposable earnings or the amount above 30 times the federal minimum wage, per 15 USC 1673. The garnishee mails the withheld funds to the plaintiff (not the court) every pay period, until the writ expires at 182 days or the judgment is paid in full.
The defendant has 14 days after receiving the disclosure to file objections on Form MC 49. If the debtor objects, the court schedules a hearing within 21 days, and withholding pauses until the judge rules. Common objections are wrong identity, exempt income (Social Security, SSI, unemployment, veterans’ benefits), or that the judgment is satisfied.
If the writ expires before the judgment is paid, you must file a new MC 31 with a fresh $15 fee, $35 garnishee fee, and updated Box 8 math. Many creditors set a calendar reminder at day 150 to start the renewal cycle.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
Garnishment is unforgiving. The State Court Administrative Office’s self-help materials catalog dozens of recurring errors that doom otherwise valid writs.
- Listing the full Social Security number — violates MCR 1.109(D)(9) and the writ is rejected at intake.
- Forgetting the $35 garnishee fee — the garnishee can lawfully ignore the writ.
- Naming the d/b/a instead of the registered entity — service is invalid and can be quashed.
- Stale judgment more than 10 years old — the writ will not issue without a renewed judgment.
- Wrong post-judgment interest rate — Box 8 is too high, defendant objects, and the writ is reduced.
- Filing in the wrong court — only the issuing court can issue the writ; the clerk will refuse.
- Missing the 182-day expiration — withholding stops and you must refile from scratch.
- Skipping Box 9 (type of periodic payment) — clerks reject the writ as facially incomplete.
- Using an outdated form revision — courts require the current MC 31 (3/24); older versions get bounced.
- Failing to mail the disclosure copy to the defendant — violates due process and risks sanctions under MCR 3.101(M).
- Stapling cash to the writ — clerks return the entire packet unfiled.
Do’s and Don’ts
A short discipline list will save you from most rejections and objections. Each rule below comes from MCR 3.101 or the SCAO instruction sheet.
Do:
- Do verify the current six-month statutory interest rate the day you fill out Box 8 because rates change every January 1 and July 1.
- Do pull the garnishee’s exact legal name from the LARA business search so service sticks the first time.
- Do keep an unsigned PDF template you can recycle for repeat filings against the same debtor.
- Do calendar the 182-day expiration the same hour you e-file the writ.
- Do mail the disclosure copy to the defendant within 7 days of service to satisfy due process.
- Do attach proof of identity (the last four of the SSN, plus DOB if available) when the debtor’s name is common.
Don’t:
- Don’t list the full Social Security number anywhere on the writ.
- Don’t combine multiple garnishees on one writ; each garnishee gets its own MC 31.
- Don’t use white-out on a paper writ; the clerk will reject it as altered.
- Don’t try to garnish Social Security, SSI, VA benefits, or unemployment — they are categorically exempt.
- Don’t sign the writ before the date you intend to file; clerks often reject writs signed more than 30 days before filing.
- Don’t paraphrase field labels in court correspondence; use the exact box names so the clerk can find what you mean.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
A pro se filer can absolutely complete MC 31, but every choice has trade-offs. The right path depends on the size of the judgment, the complexity of the garnishee, and how much your time is worth.
Pros of filing pro se:
- Saves attorney fees, which typically run $250–$500 for a single writ in Michigan.
- The Michigan Legal Help interview produces a clean, court-ready writ.
- Keeps the creditor in direct control of timing and renewals.
- Builds confidence and reusable knowledge for future writs.
- Avoids the markup most collection firms add to disbursements.
Cons of filing pro se:
- Easy to miscalculate post-judgment interest, which leads to objections.
- No professional review of the garnishee’s legal name and address.
- Pro se filers often miss the 182-day expiration and lose months of withholding.
- No built-in second pair of eyes to catch SSN-redaction errors.
- Hearings on objections require courtroom procedure most lay filers do not know.
Paper vs. MiFILE
The choice of channel matters as much as the form itself. The table below highlights the practical differences.
| Factor | Paper Filing | MiFILE E-Filing |
|---|---|---|
| Filing fee | $15.00 (district court) | $15.00 plus $8 e-filing surcharge |
| Processing time | 5–10 business days by mail; same day in person | 1–3 business days |
| Proof of filing | Time-stamped copy or certified-mail receipt | Notice of Electronic Filing email |
| Signature format | Wet-ink signature required | Typed /s/ under MCR 1.109(E) |
| Best for | Pro se filers without exemption | Attorneys and frequent filers |
FAQs
Is Michigan Form MC 31 the same as MC 13?
No. MC 31 is the periodic writ for ongoing payments like wages or rent. MC 13 is the non-periodic writ used to garnish a one-time fund such as a bank account or tax refund.
Can I file MC 31 if the judgment is from another state?
No. You must first domesticate the foreign judgment using MC 26 under Michigan’s Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act before any Michigan writ may issue.
How long is an MC 31 writ valid?
Yes, it has a clear life — exactly 182 days from the date of issuance under MCR 3.101(B). After that, file a new MC 31 with a fresh $15 fee.
Do I write the full Social Security number in Box 5?
No. List only the last four digits, prefaced with xxx-xx-. Including the full SSN violates MCR 1.109(D)(9) and triggers rejection.
Should Box 7 include post-judgment interest?
No. Box 7 holds the original judgment amount as entered. Post-judgment interest, costs, and credits go in Box 8, the net-balance line.
Can I check more than one box in Box 9?
No. Pick the single category that fits the periodic income. If the debtor receives both wages and commissions from the same payer, file two separate MC 31s.
Do I need the defendant’s permission to file?
No. A judgment debtor’s consent is never required. You only need a valid Michigan judgment that has not lapsed under MCL 600.5809.
Can I garnish Social Security or unemployment?
No. Federal law at 42 USC 407 and Michigan law at MCL 421.30 make those benefits categorically exempt from garnishment.
Is the $35 garnishee fee paid to the court?
No. The $35 fee under MCL 600.4012(2) is paid directly to the garnishee at service. The $15 filing fee is the only payment the court receives.
Can I e-file MC 31 through MiFILE?
Yes. Almost every Michigan trial court accepts MC 31 through MiFILE, and attorneys are required to e-file unless an exemption applies.
Do I sign the writ in Box 11?
No. Box 11 is the clerk’s issuance and seal. The plaintiff or attorney signs Box 10. Signing the clerk’s block invalidates the writ.
What happens if I forget to mail the disclosure copy to the defendant?
No withholding can lawfully continue without that step. Failure to serve the defendant violates due process under MCR 3.101(M) and the writ may be quashed.
Can the garnishee charge me for responding?
Yes. The garnishee is entitled to the $35.00 statutory fee you paid at service, and may seek additional reasonable costs by motion in unusual cases under MCR 3.101(F)(2).
Do I refile if the debtor changes employers?
Yes. A writ binds only the named garnishee. When the debtor takes a new job, file a fresh MC 31 naming the new employer with new fees and updated Box 8 math.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out Michigan Form DC 84 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Michigan Form DC 88 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Michigan Form MC 21 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Michigan Form MC 22 (w/Examples) + FAQs
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